Thankful for this

What i am thankful for in 2010....Let us start with the most important, my wife. She is my love, my life, and my best friend. My daughter Sara. She is the light of my life, the reason to work, the reason to take a breath. These two are the backbone of my existence. Kali, Karl, Tanji, and Ryley...friends like no other. Kali is another lite in my life, gods gift to my best friends and an important part of my life. Of course ryley completes the package. I have my parents here near me. They are a lighthouse that brightens Sara's life and Sara brightens their. There are Mindy's parents as well that Grandma may have dementia, but grandpa is more involved and a joy to talk to. Find the good amongst the bad. Oh yes the bad..I am sorry to have lost a sister, but it was not my choice. Ohana is just as stitch said. Ohana means family, and no one gets left behind. When you leave one behind you left all behind. Maybe she will grow up, face the mirror and realize she is not the center of the universe and grow up, as well we all have problems in our past and guess what, most of us do not blame others for what they did not know. Wow, that felt good.

I am thankful for a job, a roof over my head, and all of my friends that i can count on when i need them. BlackJack (what a nut), Cleo, and even Taki (because she makes Mindy happy). My F150...Yeah Truck...Darius Rucker, Disney Vacations, OSU Football & Basketball, and many, many other sports, movies, tv , and life. If i forgot to mention you, trust me If you are reading this you are an imortant part as well. You cared enough to care what i thought. Thanks

Goodbye #23

Carlos was a big part of the Tampa Bay Rays. He was my favorite player ever and Sara's as well. He left for what was best for him, but our family will miss him. He was more then a player, he was a team leader. All the players going this year this is the hardest goodbye. Here is what he posted for the fans of TB.

Dear Fans of Tampa Bay,

Even though my words will never be able to express how special playing for you these past four years has been for me, I will make an attempt. I feel extremely grateful that I had the privilege of playing for the Tampa Bay Rays and to have grown along with the team. I was able to enjoy unbelievable thrills but not before enduring heartache and defeat. Now I know more than ever that anything is possible if I believe it to be with all my might. When I first became a Ray we were the worst team in baseball. But what was about to happen next, not even the greatest fiction writer in the world would have been able to come up with it. I have never in my life seen a team come together in such a way, where everyone humbly but undeniably believed with all their strength that we could make it to the top. This is the story of the little engine that could. The underdog story. The story of a team in oblivion, that went on to become American League East Champs twice, American League Champs once, and made a World Series appearance. I am so honored to be able to say that I was a part of that. I am so honored to be able to say that I was a RAY. Thanks for cheering for me when I performed well, but most importantly thanks for patting me on the back and encouraging me when it was difficult. Thanks for inspiring me to be the best I can be. I will keep on trying for I know that I will never be done, for the beauty of life is in the journey not in a destination. Thank you Tampa Bay Rays for believing in me when no one else did. Thank you to all my teammates for their friendship and for all the wonderful memories. Thank you to all the fans of Tampa Bay for pulling for me every night and day. I will be forever grateful.
May God bless you always,
Carlos Pena 23

2011 "Yea i said that"

Wow...My Blog is one year old. Yes i have not posted all my opinions as i would have wished so here are some that i forgot...Yes i do believe that gas prices are too high and that BP should be responsible for what they did. It is unforgivable to not protect what can ruin so much...I believe that if you love someone you stand by them forever, not until it is inconvenient to you. Here is a thought, Deal with it Dumba**.... Kids grow up to fast and parents are harder to deal with then kids... We are all underpaid and overworked, that is if you can find a job in 2010... Universal health care is for the birds... i say that if i made you mad i am sorry, get over it and move on, i did... i still do not like the Yankees, but i respected George and he was a visionary... Bengals still stink ... OSU still plays below their ability... and finally yes i could lose some weight, but i did not ask for your opinion about that... I love my Wife, my daughter, Kali, Ryley, my parents, more then anything else and many friends... Darius Rucker, How to Train your Dragon, TB Rays, and Modern Family were highlights in 2010...Bring it on 2011

Pro Football Players...not in 2011

Stay in school. We hear it all the time and although i did not attend a 4 year college maybe i am not the person who should give advice here. I say na na. Because i did not attend college in my younger years i think it is more important to hear this from me. I am getting away from my point. This is addressed to all the student athletes that leave school early to go pro. College Football Juniors and Sophomores....Stay in School. The NFL is talking strike. So do you want to leave the chance for a four year education (paid for you, that's for another time) and sit out a year because the NFL want to fight over the mighty dollar. Stay in school, get your free education.That is what the coaches that recruited you expected from you anyways, right?